Mail Order Motherhood (Brides of Beckham Book 8) (14 page)
Read Mail Order Motherhood (Brides of Beckham Book 8) Online
Authors: Kirsten Osbourne
Clarence was thrilled with the new coat, hat, and gloves his mother had made him. The toolbox Albert fashioned made his eyes light up with excitement. Albert had even purchased him a hammer and saw of his very own. The girls had made him a pair of socks. “I’ve never had a better Christmas,” he exclaimed.
Natalie smiled happily when she opened the sweater that matched Gertie’s. “Now we can look alike at church today!” She loved her new doll bed, and laughed that she’d been made the same thing as Gertie had. Gertie had made her a pillow for their bed, because she always said one wasn’t enough. Clarence had given her a small book of poems he’d seen in the mercantile.
When it was Clara’s turn to open her gifts, she smiled looking at them. “I really didn’t expect anything!”
Albert shook his head. “After all the trouble you went to for everyone else, there was no way I was going to let you go without a gift yourself.”
The girls had given her a doily for her dresser that they’d crocheted the lace for. She smiled as she looked at their imperfect stitches and knew she’d treasure it all the more for them. Clarence gave her his gift next. It was a small glass squirrel. She’d always loved to watch squirrels and when Clarence was little, she’d made up stories about squirrels for him.
When Albert handed her his gift, her heart skipped a beat. She carefully opened the brown wrapping paper and peeked inside. She put her hand to her chest and exclaimed happily when she saw what it was. “Oh, thank you!” It was just like the brooch she’d had to sell right before they’d left Beckham. She’d always regretted doing it, but she’d had no choice. “It’s exactly like the one I sold.”
“I’m glad,” Albert told her. His eyes on hers let her know that he cared, more than just a little bit for her.
Clara pinned the brooch at the neck of her blouse, wishing she had a small mirror so she could see how it looked. She stood and walked around the table, kissing Albert’s cheek. “It’s lovely.”
He smiled at her. “It looks as beautiful on you as I’d envisioned.”
She flushed. She hadn’t expected praise for her appearance from him. “Thank you.”
She moved back around to sit in the spot she’d occupied previously, thrilled that he had given her the compliment. The children each gave him a gift. The girls had worked together to make him a scarf, taking turns knitting between chores. Clarence had sharpened his saw carefully for him one day when he was left at home. “I noticed it was rusty and gave it a good cleaning and sharpened it for you. I didn’t know what else you needed.”
Albert had smiled at him. “This was the perfect gift. I thought I was going to have to do it myself within the next week or so, and I wasn’t looking forward to missing out on work. Thank you, son.”
Clarence had beamed with pride. “You’re welcome, Pa.”
Clara took the package she’d wrapped and pushed it across the table to Albert. He carefully untied the string and looked down at what was inside. A smile transformed his face. He looked at the stocking cap and pulled the gloves onto his hands. “These will be wonderful this winter. Thank you.”
Clara grinned and pushed the smaller package at him. “You’re welcome.”
“What’s this? You already gave me a gift.”
“I made you a couple of gifts, but I wanted to buy you something special as well.” She shrugged like it didn’t matter.
He opened the gift and turned the knife over in his hand. “I thought it would be good for your whittling. The one you have has a nick in the blade,” she told him.
Albert shook his head. “This is beautiful. I don’t need anything nearly this fancy.” He smiled as his finger traced the cowboy on the handle.
“I thought it would make it more special when you made something if you carved it with that.”
“I love it.” He stared down at it resting in the palm of his hand. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Thank you.” He’d never been given anything nearly so grand. His new wife thought of everything. He had loved his first wife, but she was right. He could love one and then love another after she was gone. He needed to tell her.
Clara jumped to her feet. “We need to go if we don’t want to be late for church. Is everyone ready?”
Natalie was the only one not dressed in church clothes. She’d been afraid to get them dirty as she cooked breakfast. “It’ll just take me a minute to change, Mama.”
The next few minutes were frantic as they rushed out the door. Albert and Clarence went out to hitch up the sleigh, and Clara helped the two younger children into their coats, hats, and mittens.
The ride to church was enjoyable. They sang Christmas songs as they drove. It was Clara’s first time at the church in town, and she met so many people, she felt as if her head would spin. She stiffened up when she saw Mary with her new husband. She tried to turn away, but Mary hurried to her.
“Please let me come back to live in your house. I’ll help with every chore and never behave badly again.”
Clara looked at the other woman, not sure of what to say. She didn’t want to see anyone suffer, but she certainly didn’t want to have to be saddled with the harridan ever again. Albert stepped up behind her and came to her rescue. “You’re married now. You’ll go home with your husband.”
Frank stepped up behind Mary. “You complaining about me, wife?”
Mary quickly shook her head. “Of course not.”
Frank shrugged. “She sure complains a lot to others about how terrible of a husband I am, but she doesn’t complain in bed at night.” He waggled his brows at Albert.
“I think it’s time for us to go,” Albert said, slipping his arm around Clara’s waist and gathering the children. “I’m sure we’ll see you around town.”
When they arrived home, Clara and the girls rushed around to get Christmas dinner ready. Eli was the first real guest she’d serve in her new home, so Clara wanted everything to be perfect. When Eli arrived, she gave him the foot of the table while she sat at Albert’s right. Albert said a prayer thanking God for his bounty, and they ate together.
Eli turned to Clara. “I’ve heard good things about you. How do you like Montana?”
Clara smiled. “I think it’s a beautiful place. Do you think it will be a state soon?”
“Just a matter of time. Any other women like you back East who want to come out here and marry? I could use a mail order bride myself if she’s as sweet and pretty as you are.” He took a bite of food. “And as good a cook. I need a mail order bride who’s a good cook.”
Clara laughed. “I’m sure they could find someone for you. Before you go, I’ll give you the address of the agency I used.” She smiled at Albert who shook his head.
“You never know who you’ll end up with when you use an agency to find a bride.” Albert shrugged. “If you’re willing to take the risk, we’ll help you find someone.”
Eli nodded. “I want that address.”
The feast she’d prepared was devoured quickly, and they all sat around for a while after the dishes were done, talking. Clara worked on a tiny sweater while they men compared ranch stories.
Eli left before it was full dark. “I’ve been gone too long already,” he told Albert. “Thank you for inviting me. I haven’t spent Christmas with anyone but my dog in years.”
Clara stood. “We’re glad you came. Write a letter to Elizabeth,” she said nodding to the paper in his hand. “I’d love to see you have a bride of your own next Christmas.”
Eli smiled. “Thank you for a wonderful meal, Mrs. Hanson. I was the luckiest man around to be invited.” He looked at Albert. “Well, second luckiest. Someone gets to see your pretty face and eat your cooking every day.”
Clara blushed, looking down. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Clarence and Albert walked Eli out to his sleigh and did the evening chores before coming back inside. When they came back with the milk, Clara asked, “Is anyone hungry yet?”
Albert patted his stomach. “I couldn’t eat anything yet. Maybe you could make something simple in a couple of hours. Like eggs? Or pancakes? I don’t see any of us wanting another big meal.”
“I’ll do that then.”
The children were all playing together, which was rare in their home. The girls usually tried to work in the evenings, and Clarence was always trying to keep up with his schoolwork. That evening, though, the children were playing with Robert’s new train and moving things from one doll bed to the other. They were all laughing and joking together, and Clara loved how well they played.
Clara looked at Albert. “We have a lovely family.”
He smiled, his eyes lighting up. “A year ago, I thought my life was over. My wife was dying, and I really thought I’d never know how to smile again. I thank God every day that He brought you into my life and taught me how to smile again. Thank you for teaching me to love again, Clara.”
Her eyes met his, misty with unshed tears. “I’m proud to have someone like you to love. I’m happy here, and so are my children.”
They joined hands across the table as the children continued to play. They both truly felt blessed to have found one another.
Epilogue
Clara sat down to put pen to paper. She hadn’t written Elizabeth in over a month, and the younger woman had sent a letter asking if everything was well. Albert had brought it back from town when he’d made a supply run the day before. She looked down at the cradle beside the table and rocked it with her foot as she wrote.
“Dear Elizabeth, I’m so sorry to have worried you. My life is overflowing with goodness. Little Katie is a good baby and a sound sleeper. She’s already sleeping through the night every night. I’ll start teaching Robert with his older sisters next month. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been here almost a year already. Time certainly does fly when you’re happy. Gertie and Natalie took little Robert out to the garden, and they’re all weeding for me. I don’t want to take her into the sun with as young as she is, so they’ve taken over my vegetable garden for me. This winter we’re going to have a full cellar to choose from. How are things back home? I hope you’re still looking for a bride for Eli. He’s a good man and deserves to be happy. I’ll try to write more often now that the baby is here and healthy. Yours, Clara.”
Clara stood and breathed deeply of the late summer air. How could she have doubted that Montana was where she was meant to be?
More From Kirsten Osbourne
Brides of Beckham Series
Dallas Billionaires Series
Stand Alone Books
Suitors of Seattle
Regencies
The Dalton Brides
The Rancher's Mail Order Bride
The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride (by Kit Morgan)
The Drifter's Mail Order Bride (by Cassie Hayes)
Writing as Morganna Mayfair
Thrice Blessed Trilogy
Stenwick Siblings Trilogy
